In Business, Resilience is a Team Effort

Syroco's vision is fundamentally human: we are committed to enabling scientific development and the invention of technologies that are useful and safe for people, for businesses, and for the environment. So is the heart of our adventure, and I am grateful to all who contribute to achieving this.

Syroco is a team. A real one. I experience this every day in our offices when I see the people who work with us, dedicated to move projects forward. I feel it every time our colleagues or partners take a commitment that helps us move forward.

A real team is one that knows how to celebrate victories, of course, but it is also above all one whose members know how to stick together through a challenge to surpass it. Now, I can see this: members of Syroco, and people involved in the projects, are united, and keep their eyes on the goal. Together.

The current period is not quite optimal for a startup: the principle of fundraising in this type of structure is to buy time to go through a concept and match an offer to the market's needs. And time just so happens to have become more expensive. But I come from an environment where we count time in milliseconds, and I'm well surrounded. That makes me confident.

I had already developed entrepreneurial skills during my sporting career. I learned team management, budget management, and supplier management. I also learned how to build long-term partnerships, and I am proud to have established strong relationships with those who have been with me since the beginning. And the most useful of these skills right now is resilience. This process works: analyzing a situation, learning from it, adapting the approach, and getting back to the grinder.

I experimented this in 2012 when I injured my knee in the middle of a competition. The exams, recovery, and then rehab took a long time. A time during which I could no longer improve my times, my fitness, nor provide my partners with the expected visibility. I was stuck on dry land. And yet, something grew inside me during that time.

With the help and support of my family, doctors and nurses, my coaches, and even my competitors, I was able to bounce back. And I bounced back strong because I had gotten stronger myself. As soon as I got back on the water, I took part in the world championships at home in the Camargue. Despite the pain, I finished 7th. It was a blow to morale, but I was happy to be back in my environment. A few months later, I organized the first edition of Salt and Speed, which is still today a very awaited event within the kite community. I made the second-best performance there. And in the years that followed, I set new records.

I see the same thing today as I did back then: resilience works better with people around. And in business, it's a team effort that earns cheers.

After the first, inevitable retreat in case of a blow, the rebound comes in two phases: analyzing the failure to understand the situation better, and then repositioning. To get through moments of doubt, approaching the challenge with serenity (to "keep a cool head" as we say in sports) is crucial. In these times, a real team unveils its power by being at the same time a home port, a lighthouse, and a lifebuoy: it makes you feel safe, helps you find your way, and prevents you from sinking.

"It only takes a captain to stay the course, but it takes a crew to keep the ship going," goes the saying. We'll undoubtedly be crossing other adverse weather. And judging by the attitude and creativity of the team, even though we may have to weave a bit, we are going in the right direction. And we will still move forward faster.

Alex Caizergues, co-founder & CEO, Syroco

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